Frame structure and hydraulic press construction



United States Patent [72] Inventor ErnstMueller 18 Konglsberger Strasse 5484, Bad Niederbreisig (Rhine), Germany [21] AppLNo. 737,877 [22] Filed June 18,1968 [45] Patented Dec. 8, 1970 [32] Priority June 19,1967 [33] Germany [31] No. M74423 [54] FRAME STRUCTURE AND HYDRAULIC PRESS CONSTRUCTION 20 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs,

[52] U.S.CI. 100/214, 18/16g72/455 [51] lnt.CI B30b 1/00 [50] FieldofSearch 100/214;

72/455: 83/701; l8/16,-(I-Iigh Pressure Digest) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,416,058 2/1947 Mangnall l00/214X 2,417,697 3/1947 Loomis 100/269 2,722,174 11/1955 Albers.... lO0/214X 2,875,652 3/1959 Ehlert..... 100/214X 3,243,988 4/1966 Groos 72/455 3,346,922 10/1967 Brayman etal 100/214X FOREIGN PATENTS 301,770 12/1928 Great Britain Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite Attorney-Me Glew & Toren ABSTRACT: An apparatus subjected to large tonnage loads and/or high pressures comprising a press frame formed of two oppositely arranged C-shaped vertically disposed transverse stacks of plates which abut together at each top and bottom leg portion in a manner such that they define a frame opening therebetween. The two C-shaped stacks of sheets or plates are held together in a frame forming orientation by interconnecting belt elements or preferably by encircling shrinking rings which also consist of a stack of plates which are arranged in a vertical stack with their major dimension in a horizontal plane. Means such as holding bolts are provided for orienting the sheets of each stack in an abutting relationship which comprises for example securing bolts. Transverse members are arranged within the frame for absorbing the reaction pressures of a press which includes a piston member displaceable within the frame opening toward a fixed member carried on one of the said transverse members. The transverse members advantageously comprise horizontal stacks of plates having their major axes vertically oriented. The transverse members may also be carried in cutout portions of the C-shaped frame forming members and thus provide a considerable savings in vertical space.

The C-shaped frame forming stacks of sheets may also be held together in a frame forming orientation by transverse extending bolts. The construction may also be varied by interposing an intermediate member between the C-shaped stacks of sheets in order to increase with width dimension if it becomes necessary or desirable.

PATENTED DEC 8 19m SHEET 1 OF 2.

INVENTOR.

A TIORNE Y5 FIGZ FRAME STRUCTURE AND HYDRAULIC PRESS CONSTRUCTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to the construction of frames capable of withstanding very high stresses and loading and in particular, to a new and useful hydraulic press frame construction formed of stacks of plates of Cf-shaped configuration arranged in pairs of opposing stacks with the leg portions abutting to define an enclosing frame structure.

The invention is particularly suitable for hydraulic press frame structures which are to be subjected to very high stresses, that is, presses which are suitable for pressing work pieces which exhibit high resistance to shaping or forming. In such large presses, it is customary to use closed frame structures which consist of one or several stacks of bundles of metal plates of frame shaped configuration. Such frames replace the forged heavy pillars or columns which are used in customary constructions and also replace the cross heads of cast steel or similar arrangements at the head and foot ends of the previous construction.

When the dimension of the press becomes so large that the width of the press frame exceeds the width of the commercially available manufactured'plates, and large presses may have widths of 8 meters or more, then the frames are made of assembled individual plates. Such plates are either welded together or the vertical plates are connected with the horizontal sheets by cross bolts.

In accordance with the invention a frame for a press, or a similar large device, is produced without welding even very great frame widths are required. This is accomplished by using a pair of plate stacks or those which are constructed so that when they are placed together in opposed relationship they form an enclosing frame structure. For this purpose the stacks of individual plates are advantageously made of C-shaped configuration having leg portions which extend outwardly and which are arranged opposite to similar leg portions of a corresponding opposite stack of plates. The leg portions are arranged in an abutting relationship so that between the plate stacks there is formed a frame opening. The pairs of C-shaped stacks of plates are held together by means such as an encircling ring which exerts a horizontal force on the sheets and they are not required to be welded. In the preferred form, the plates are held together by shrink rings which are formed of a plurality of vertically stacked plates having a major axis in a horizontal plane and which are shrink-fitted around the exterior of the abutting C-shaped plate stacks. An alternative construction permits the use of holding bolt members which are directed through the opposed stacks of C-shaped plates to hold them together. In some instances, the C-shaped plates may be spaced apart to define a larger frame opening by the use of spacer stacks of plates which are arranged between the leg portions of the C-shaped plates.

The new construction makes the assembly of the frame structures very simple and it is relatively inexpensive.

The construction may include an arrangement of transversely disposed stacks of plates within the opening of the frame structure adjacent the J top and bottom portions thereof in order to provide a reinforcement and a means for distributing the high press loads of the operating press cylinder acting on the work piece positioned over transverse members. In some instances it is desirable to increase the working height space available within the frame opening by providing transverse reinforcing members within the leg portions of the C-shaped stacks of plates.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved structure capable of withstanding high loads comprising a pair of plate stacks of a configuration which when the stacks are arranged together in opposed relationship forms an enclosure in the form of a frame and which are advantageously held together without welding by means such as encircling rings or securing bolts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a frame structure for a hydraulic press which includes first and second stacks of flat plate members of generally C-shaped configuration arranged in an abutting relationship with the legs abutting to enclose an opening in which a press cylinder and work piece support are adapted to be located; the press frame structure which is formed by theopposed sets of C-shaped plates being held in position such as by securing bolts or by an encircling ring of plate stacks which are shrink fitted around the frame formed by the C-shaped stacks.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic press construction which includes a frame formed by opposed sets of plates of generally C-shaped configuration, with or without the imposition of spacer members between the leg portions of the Cshaped members, and carrying transverse stacks of sheets having their major axes vertical.

A further object of the invention is to provide a frame struc- I ture or hydraulic press frame which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of one of the frame portions of a hydraulic press constructed in accordance with the invention and taken along the line 1-1 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG. 3 of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of still another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of another embodiment of the invention.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing in particular, the invention embodied therein comprises a press structure including two separate frame structures generally designated 50 and 52 for a hydraulic press. In accordance with the invention each frame structure 50 and 52 is formed essentially of two horizontal stacks of vertically elongated sheets of generally C-shaped configuration generally designated land 2. The sheet stacks l and 2 are assembled in opposed relationship with their leg portions abutting along vertical plane lines 3 and 4 and they enclose an open space 5 therewithin. In. order to insure that there will be no relativedisplacement of the sheet stacks 1 and 2 relative to each other there is provided an opening 7 and an opening 8 for receiving shearing bolts therethrough to maintain the sheet stacks in proper alignment.

in accordance with one embodiment of the invention the sheet stacks 1 and 2 are maintained in a closed frame-forming orientation by groups of shrink fitted rings 9, l0, l1, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 which are placed about the sheet stacks l and 2 at the locations indicated when they are in a heated condition. The rings are permitted to engage the outside edges of the sheet stacks by shrinkage after cooling. In the preferred arrangement sheet stacks l and 2 are provided with reduced width portions 14 and 2a and 1a and 2a adjacent the respective ends thereof for receiving sets of the shrink rings 9, l0 and l5, 16, respectively. In some instances, it is desirable to insert heating members 17 such as resistance heaters between individual sheets of the vertical stack of the sheets which form each of the shrink ring members. Current is supplied from supply lines 18 to the heaters in order to provide an expansion of the rings before they are installed around the sheet stacks 1 and 2. A press cylinder 19 is located at the upper end of the frame space and secured to transverse member or plate stacks 21 and 22. The cylinder 19 may be actuated to work on a work piece carried on a platform 20 supported on cross frame elements 23 and 24. The reaction pressures which occur during the working operation are distributed upwardly through the transversely arranged plate stacks 21 and 22 and downwardly through transversely arranged plate stacks 23 and 24. Q

The plates of the main stacks l and 2 are advantageously held together by through boltmembers 25 and 26 which are tightly engaged with the associated sheet stacks through the use of plates 27 and threaded nuts 28.

In order that the reactions of the press forces can be transmitted from the round press cylinder 19 satisfactorily onto the sheet stacks 1 and 2 invention provides a cylinder bottom of circular configuration but the opposite end 30 is formed in a rectangular manner such as square. The construction of the frame 50 is of advantage both during pressing with stationary frames (an upper floor press) and also a press with movable frame (a lower floor press).

A considerable reduction of the vertical space available within the opening 5 may be accomplished in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 4 in which the plate stacks generally designated 1' and 2', respectively, are formed with transversely extending openings to receive sets of transverse plate stacks 31, 32 and 33 which extend through the plate stacks l and 2. These transverse stacks 31 to 33 include individual plates having a major axis which is vertical and which are disposed between upper end shrink rings 34 and 35 and lower end shrink rings 36 and 37, respectively. The center stack 32 provides an aligning function for the sheet stacks 1 and 2 in the same manner as the openings 7 and 8 which receives shear bolts in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

An alternate means for holding sets of sheet stacks generally designated 1" and 2" is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. This comprises the use of cross irons or plates 40 and 41 and two drawing bars or bolts 42 and 43.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 the sets of C-shaped sheet stacks generally designated 1" and 2" are spaced apart by a further amount by the use of spacer plate stack generally designated 44 which is interposed therebetween. This permits the obtaining of a greater width within the center of the frame generally designated 50" which is formed thereby.

The new construction of the press frame according to the invention provides several advantages: for example, in respect to presses operating with very high pressing pressures and large-width, plates of very high stability and rolling structure may be employed. In addition, the plates sheets forming the stacks 1 and 2 and also the press rings may be shipped and transported individually in a relatively simple manner and the assembly may take place at the plant location. No welding is necessary and no distortions or warping of the plates will occur. The assembly is relatively simple.

Plates of rectangular configuration may be shipped to the erection site and they may be formed into C-shaped configuration by a burning out process,-or, this may be effected in a work shop while maintaining the necessary measures to maintain the plane shape of the sheets. The cutout pieces from the sheets may be used for smaller stacks of sheets which will be used as transverse sheets or spacer sheet stacks, for example.

By using shrinking rings or shrinking frames to hold the C- shaped frame forming structures together a very rigid connection of the frame is obtained. Each shrinking ring embraces all of the group of plates of the frame forming structures of the press. The shrinking on of the plates is accomplished in a known manner under the utilization of temperature differentials which may be created for example by heating the shrinking rings so that they may be applied in a hot condition. When the heated rings cool they bear against the narrow sides of the sheets of the frame forming stacks 1 and 2 with a force which can be calculated in advance. The rings hold the sheets together laterally and longitudinally.

If the press is to be subjected to particularly high stresses and loads, it is recommended that two or several groups of shrinking frames made up of individual C-shaped stacks of sheets be employed. The overall press construction may advantageously include end cutout portions of the main C- shaped frame members but of a size sufi'icient to receive one or more shrink rings therearound. One of the lower shrinking rings may be used for transmitting the press weight onto the foundation for the press. The shrinking rings are advantageously formed from stacks of sheets or plates which exhibit in a group more stability than single layer ring elements. The means for heating the shrink rings may be arranged between the sheets themselves and may comprise electrical heating elements such as resistance wires or even means for conducting a heating element such as steam therethrough.

With the construction of the invention including the arrangement of stacks of plates in the form of rings around the C-shaped frame-forming stacks no forces can occur which will have a tendency to displace the sheets relative to each other. However, in order to make sure that the sheets are always maintained in alignment the invention provides an opening at the plane of the abutting leg portions of the C-shaped sheet stacks which receive a shearing body such as a bolt. Displacement forces which act in a vertical direction are then taken up by the shearing bodies or transmitted by them. For assembly purposes, it is sometimes advantageous to effect a temporary or permanent tack welding between the two C-shaped legs of the frame forming elements in order to align or straighten the sheets relative to each other. This type of welding, however, does not provide any actual holding connection but the holding is effected by the shrinking frames.

I claim:

1. A frame construction for a hydraulic press and similar device subject to high operating pressures, comprising first and second frame forming sets each comprising a horizontal stack of metal plates, said first and second frame forming sets being arranged in abutting opposition and being of a configuration to define together a frame having an opening, and a ring tightly fitted against the exterior of said first and second frame forming sets for holding said plates in their stacks and for holding said first and second frame forming sets together in aligned abutting orientation and exerting a force in a horizontal direction against said first and second frame forming sets.

2. A frame construction according to claim 1, wherein said ring comprises a shrink-fitted stack of a plurality of plates having their major axes substantially horizontal.

3. A frame construction according to claim 1, wherein said means holding said sheets in their stacks and for holding said first and second stacks together comprise a bolt member extending through first and second frame sets and secured thereto.

4. A frame construction according to claim 1, wherein first and second frame forming sets are substantially C-shaped and include leg portions which abut against the opposite corresponding one of said sets, and a shear member extending through the abutment plane of said leg portion.

5. A hydraulic press frame construction comprising first and second frame sets each comprising a lateral stack of vertically elongated substantially C-shaped plates, said first and second frame sets each having leg portions and being arranged in opposition with their leg portions abutting and being of a configuration to define together a frame having an opening therein, means for holding said plates in their associated stacks and for holding said first and second frame sets against transverse movement, and at least one member engaged around said first and second frame sets and holding said sets in aligned opposition with their leg portions abutting.

6. A hydraulic press according to claim 5, including third and fourth frame sets spaced laterally from said first and second frame forming sets and spacer bolt means interconnecting said first and second frame sets with said third and fourth frame sets.

7. A hydraulic press frame construction comprising first and second frame sets each comprising a stack of elongated substantially C-shaped plates, said first and second frame sets each having leg portions, and being arranged in-opposition with their leg portions abutting and being of a configuration to define together a frame having an opening therein, means for holding said plates in their associated stacks and for holding said first and second frame sets against transverse movement, and at least one member engaged around said first and second frame sets andholding said sets in aligned opposition with their leg portions abutting, said member comprising at least one ring arranged in tight engagement with exterior of said first and second frame sets, said ring comprising a stack of a plurality of plates.

8. A hydraulic press according to claim 7, wherein there are a plurality of rings encircling the exterior of said first and second frame sets, at least some of said rings being shrink fitted against the exterior walls of said sets.

9. A hydraulic press according to claim 8, wherein at least the top and bottom ends of said first and second frame sets are recessed, and at least one of said rings being positioned in said recessed portion.

10. A hydraulic press according to claim 7, including a fluid pressure cylinder carried within said frame adjacent the upper end thereof, said fluid pressure cylinder being of substantially circular configuration at the end thereof which extends into said frame opening, the opposite end of substantially rectangular configuration. i

11. A hydraulic press frame construction comprising first and second frame sets each comprisinga stack of elongated substantially C-shaped plates, and first and second frame sets each having leg portions and being arranged in opposition with their leg portions abutting and being of a configuration to define together a frame having an opening therein, means for holding said plates in their associated stacks and for holding said first and second frame sets against transverse movements, and at least one member engaged with said first and second frame sets and holding said sets in aligned opposition with their leg portions abutting, said first and second frame sets being reduced adjacent their outer ends, said member comprising a plurality of rings each composed of a plurality of plates arranged in a vertical stack, at least one of each of said rings being engaged around the reduced end portions of said first and second frame sets and at least one of said rings being engaged around the intermediate portion of first and second frame sets.

12. A hydraulic press according to claim 11, wherein one of said rings provides a support for resting said press on a foundation.

13. A hydraulic press according to claim 11, including means for heating said rings to expand the ring members prior to their being positioned around said first and second frame forming sets.

14. A hydraulic press frame construction comprising first and second frame setseach comprising a stack of elongated substantially C-shaped plates, said first and second frame sets each having leg portions and being arranged in opposition with their leg portions abutting and being of a configuration to define together a frame having an opening therein, means for holding said plates in their associated stack and for holding said first and second frame sets against transverse movement, and at least one member engaged with said first and second frame sets and holding said sets in aligned opposition with their leg portions abutting including a transverse member carried by said frame comprising a plurality of plates having their major axes substantially vertical.

15. A hydraulic press, according to claim 14, wherein said transverse member is supported in the opening of said frame.

16. A hydraulic press according to claim 14, wherein said transverse member is supported within the leg portions of said C-shaped stack of plates.

17. A hydraulic press frame construction comprising first and second frame sets each comprising a stack of elongated substantially C-shaped plates, said first and second frame sets each having leg portions and being arranged in opposition with their leg portions abutting and being of a configuration to define together a frame having anopening therein, means for holding said plates in their associated stacks and for holding said first and second frame sets against transverse movement, at least one plate member on each side of an engaged with said first and second frame sets and holding said sets in aligned opposition with their leg portions abutting, and a tensioning bolt extending across said stack of sheets and through each of said plate members and being tensioned against said plate members to hold said first and second frame sets together.

18. A hydraulic press frame construction comprising first and second frame sets each comprising a horizontal stack of vertically elongated substantially C-shaped plates, said first and second frame sets each having leg portions and being arranged in opposition with their leg portions abutting and being of a configuration to define together. a frame having an opening therein, means for holding said plates in their associated stacks and for holding said first and second frame sets against transverse movement, and at least one member engaged with said first and second frame sets and holding said sets in aligned opposition with their leg portions abutting including a spacer associated with one of said first and second frame forming sets forming an extension of the leg portion thereof and in abutting contact with the leg portion of the other of said first and second frame sets.

19. A hydraulic press according to claim 18 including a shear member extending through the horizontal stack of sheets of each said first and second frame sets at a location through the plane where said spacer abuts the respective leg portions thereof.

20. A giant hydraulic press for very high pressures in the order of from 100,000 to 200,000 Mp, comprising a press structure of at least two press frames each of which is formed of a pack of stacked lamination plates of substantially C- shaped configuration placed in end to end abutting relationship and defining a frame having an opening, and transversely arranged members extending around said C-shaped plate packs and holding them in a frame forming orientation, each of said C-shaped plate packs having leg portions abutting and being of a length corresponding to the maximum rolled plate widths available. 

